Method and system for advertising real estate over the internet

ABSTRACT

An Internet-based method and system permits users to list their real estate properties on respective web site pages, edit their pages, and create new pages for additional listings. A feature of the invention provides for opening a domain name file for each new page and for E-mailing a request to register the new domain names. Such web site creation and editing may be made whenever the user wishes by simply accessing a home page, entering a corresponding service function such as editing an existing page or creating a new page. The user can then carry out the selected function from a personal computer over the Internet. The domain name may correspond to a parameter of the property such as its street address.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/872,446filed on Jun. 1, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,707, which is hereinincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to advertising and selling ofreal estate and, more specifically, to online advertising and selling ofreal estate by enabling sellers to create individualized web sites forindividual properties for sale.

The proliferation of personal computers having access to the Internethas significantly altered the way sellers and buyers can find each otherto effect a mutually beneficial transaction. The buyer has the benefitof numerous search engines that can find web sites based upon selectedwords or phrases. The seller has the benefit of using one or more websites with numerous pages and links to describe products, receive buyerinformation and selections, and affect the purchase.

One particular area of commerce that gains significantly from thetechnical innovations of the Internet is the real estate market. Buyersemploy the Internet to search for available properties in particularneighborhoods, having certain features they desire, being offered withinselected ranges of price, and so forth. Sellers, through their brokers,can offer their properties at a web site which can be used to presentrelevant data such as price, number of rooms, size, age, constructionand to provide photographs of the properties. Such web sites areparticularly useful when the product data remains relatively stable overtime because changing the content of each page of a web site on afrequent basis such as every week or even every day, can be relativelyinconvenient and costly.

Unfortunately, real estate offerings inherently undergo a rapid rate ofchange. Properties are sold or enter escrow and are taken off themarket. New properties regularly become available. Prices of availableproperties change often to attract more potential buyers. Terms changesuch as whether a seller may be willing to carry a second mortgage andat what interest rate or the amount of earnest money required to hold aproperty during the escrow period. In any event, it is evident that theway real estate property is advertised and sold is not amenable to anInternet system in which relatively fixed web site presentations areinconvenient and costly to change or create on a frequent basis.

Various prior art patents provide real estate-related system and methodsthat are computer and/or Internet oriented. Of particular interest inthis regard are the following references and examples:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,216, Aug. 11, 1998, for Method And System For DataAcquisition In A Multimedia Real Estate Data Base, is a system for dataacquisition in a multimedia real estate database. The database containstextual information for each house for sale, an exterior image for eachhouse, an interior image for each house, and a parameter indicating aportion of the exterior image corresponding to the interior image. Allof the foregoing is in a common database format.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,850, May 19, 1998, for Real-Estate Method AndApparatus For Searching For Homes In A Search Pool For Exact And CloseMatches According To Primary And Non-Primary Selection Criteria, is areal estate method for searching for homes in a search pool according toselection criteria. Selection features are selected and each item in thedatabase is examined to determine if an item has a given search feature.If an item is an exact match to a given search feature, then that itemis assigned full points. If an item closely matches the search feature,then the item is assigned partial points. Items with the highest totalpoints are displayed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,025, Dec. 10, 1996, Apparatus And Method ForInteractive Communication For Tracking And Viewing Data, is a system foracquiring and displaying information relating to a specific industrysuch as real estate. The information relates to a particular property,community, financing, demographics, et cetera and can be accessed byreal estate agents and end users. When, where, and how often anadvertisement and/or property is viewed is instantly recorded by thesystem. Viewership and response patterns can be retrieved byadvertisers.

However, none of these prior art disclosures provides a system or methodthat is real estate oriented and which addresses the aforementionedproblem of rapidly changing data including the need to frequently deletesold properties and add newly available properties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a method of advertising productsand services through at least one web site on the Internet, suchproducts and services having frequently changing parameters rendering itdesirable for a seller to also frequently modify the web site to keepthe advertising current; comprises a) providing a home web site; b)determining at the home web site whether a user is an existing customeror a new customer and linking to either of at least two alternativesecond web sites depending upon the determination; c) if the user is anexisting customer, presenting user log-in data entry at thecorresponding second web site; d) verifying that the log-in data isvalid; e) offering the verified user a selection from a plurality ofservice functions, at least one of the functions being the creation of anew page for advertising an added product or service; f) linking theuser who has selected the creation service function to a site creationpage and permitting the user to select a new site layout and to enterdata related to the added product or service; g) providing payment dataentry to the user and verifying the payment data; and h) linking theuser to a final page for finalizing the new site creation, updatingappropriate database entries, and obtaining a file folder correspondingto a domain name for the new site.

In another aspect of the present invention, a system for advertisingreal estate on the Internet and permitting a user to add new linked websites corresponding to additional real estate properties offered by theuser comprises a plurality of computers each having an Internet browserand being connected for communication through an ISP to the Internet; atleast one web server having a corresponding data base and beingconnected to the Internet, with the web server and corresponding database having account and web site data for a plurality of users, eachsuch user being assigned at least one web site page pertaining to atleast one real estate property; and the server having a device forreceiving data corresponding to a new real estate property listing,generating a corresponding new web site page, and creating a file havinga corresponding domain name.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow chart diagram of the method of the invention for use byexisting customers; and

FIG. 2 is a flow chart diagram of the method of the invention for use bynew customers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It will be understood hereinafter that while the present invention isparticularly useful and advantageous in the advertising and sale of realestate properties over the Internet, the invention is applicable to avariety of commercial transactions where descriptions and other datarelating to the offered commodities change frequently.

In general, the present invention provides a simple, but unique andelegant solution to Internet-based advertising and sale of rapidlychanging commodities including real estate properties. In contrast topast methods and systems, the present invention enables a user such as aseller of real estate property to create a Listing Domain such as555MainStreet.com. The Listing Domain is a seller-created web site thatpermits frequent updating of such information, and allows a prospectivebuyer to view the information over the Internet, either through acentral portal or separately from such portal. An embodiment of thesystem and method herein also provides for account creation, log-infunctions, and user administration functions. In yet another aspect ofthe present invention, users can create or modify web site layout andinformation at any time they wish over the Internet, pay for suchservices such as by providing credit card information, and subsequentlyreceive verification of such services such as by E-mail sent to the userover the Internet.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown aflow diagram that contains the steps of an embodiment of the inventivemethod. The steps shown in FIG. 1 are those that may be carried out byan existing customer or user having access to the invention by means ofan Internet connection. It will be understood that such a connectiontypically involves a personal computer that has been programmed toprovide an Internet browser and that has a communication interface suchas a phone or DSL modem that is connected to a suitable telephonesystem. Further, it will be understood that the customer or user hasaccess through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) to the Internet andits World Wide Web to display and, interact with any web site having aregistered Domain Name including a suitable Uniform Resource Locator(URL). In view of the well-known characteristics and operation of suchapparatus and software, they need not be described herein in detail.Moreover, other and more recent innovations for Internet access, such aswireless access through PDA's and cell phones, are also contemplated foruse by customers and users of the present invention.

It will be seen in FIG. 1 that a user begins the process by entering anActive Server Page (ASP) called “home.asp”. An ASP is a dynamicHyperText Markup Language (HTML) device that combines HTML and VisualBasic (VB) script and generates HTML on a web server. If the userindicates that the user is an existing customer, the user then attemptsto log-in by entering a username and password at the site “login.asp”.If the username/password combination is valid as determined at the site“verifyuser.asp” (i.e., already in the server database), the user isthen permitted to select at the site “selectaction.asp” a servicefunction to perform, such as to create a site, perform administrativework (i.e., changes to existing web sites or Listing Domains), etcetera.

In the illustrated embodiment, if the user selects the site“administer.asp”, the user is then able to add and/or edit propertyinformation at “createsite.asp” for existing property sites or ListingDomains such as modifying price status or edit customer information at“custinfo.asp”. The user may also view, post and remove material such asreports regarding site visitors and the like. Upon completion of theseadministrative functions, the system may return to “home.asp” where theuser may start the process anew.

Alternatively, if the user wishes to create a new site or ListingDomain, the user may go to “chooselook.asp” to look at an existing siteand then to “createsite.asp” to select a new site layout and provideother information regarding the newly presented property. The system isdesigned to sense errors and determine when an entry is valid.

The user then proceeds to the site “pay.asp” where credit card paymentfor the new site may be effected as well as providing additionalverification of the user's identity. If the credit card transaction issuccessful, the user gains access to the site “finalizeorder.asp” wherethe user may finalize or complete the new site or Listing Domain order.

The “finalizeorder.asp” site automatically serves a number of functions.In the illustrated embodiment, these functions include adding aproperty.com folder for a domain name corresponding to the newly createdsite for the newly displayed property. Thus, for example, a new ListingDomain such as 555MainStreet.com is created by the inventive system tocorrespond to the new order for a property having the street address 555Main Street. The server database is updated to reflect the new site andthe entered information. The user is sent an E-mail acknowledgement ofthe new site order. E-mail is also sent to the HostPro to set up thedomain association for 555MainStreet.com. Finally, the method provider,in this instance Properties Online, is notified of the new transactionby E-mail as well. The system then returns to “home.asp” in the eventthat the user wishes to amend or create another property site.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram that contains other steps of anotherembodiment of the inventive method. The steps shown in FIG. 2 are thosethat may be carried out by a new customer or user. More specifically, asshown in FIG. 2, upon entry to the web site “home.asp”, the userindicates that he or she is a new customer and is sent to the site“custinfo.asp”. At this site, the new customer fills out all neededinformation to create an account including at least a username andpassword. Other information, such as the name and address of the user'sagent, may also be provided for convenience and/or security.

The system of the present invention then verifies the providedinformation. Such verification may include the steps of ensuring thatthe customer does not already exist in the server database and ofensuring that there are no username conflicts. The new customer is thenadded to the database if there are errors needing correction. The systemthen returns to the site “home.asp”.

In application, a seller of real estate may create a Listing Domain thatcontains pictorial and textual information about a property for sale orrent, as an example. Selling terms and/or property features, as anexample, described in the Listing Domain can be continually accessed,added, deleted, and changed by the seller. Likewise, the Listing Domaincan be accessed by potential buyers, as an example, either indirectlythrough the “home.asp” site (i.e, central portal) or directly to the URLof the Listing Domain. Consequently, and unlike prior systems andmethods, the present invention enables buyers to locate real estate, asan example, without having to first locate the “home.asp” site. In otherwords, the Listing Domain may be advertised on a posted sign on theproperty for sale, as an example, so that a potential buyer may see theURL and go directly to the Listing Domain without first having to go the“home.asp” site.

It will be understood that what has been referred to herein as a “website” or “site” is also commonly referred to as a “web site page” or“page”. It will also be understood that utilizing links to each web pageafter “home.asp” are carried out automatically in response to entries bythe user on the previous page. Furthermore, while the embodimentdisclosed herein illustrates use of the invention for advertising andselling real estate properties, it will be understood that othercommodities may be advertised and sold using the method and system ofthe invention. In fact, virtually any type of product or serviceinvolving frequently changed data, particularly where users are thepreferred or most convenient source of such changing data, can findadvantageous application of the invention with appropriate modificationfor the different products or services.

Accordingly, although one embodiment of the invention has been disclosedby way of illustration, the scope of protection hereof shall be limitedonly by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1-18. (canceled)
 19. The method of claim 24, wherein the property website is an editable web site that allows the user to alter informationabout the property found on the property web site.
 20. The method ofclaim 24, wherein the user is charged a fee for creating the propertyweb site.
 21. The method of claim 24, wherein the site-creation web siteincludes data entry options including a new web site layout, wherebydata related to the real estate property may be entered.
 22. The methodof claim 24, wherein access to the existing property web site to performadministrative work is provided through said home web site.
 23. Themethod of claim 26, further comprising the step of facilitatingadvertising the registered domain name on a sign physically located atthe real estate property.
 24. A method of advertising a property overthe Internet comprising the steps of: a) providing a home web site to aplurality of users on the Internet, said home web site being configuredto identify an existing user by associating said existing user with auser account, b) providing said existing user with a site-creationfunction configured to receive input from said existing user to create anew property web site for each of a plurality of properties for saiduser and an edit function to edit an existing property web siteassociated with said user account, said input comprising informationabout said property and a unique domain name for each new property website, and providing said existing user with a select action function toselect said site-creation function or said edit function; and c)automatically recording data correlating said user account and theplurality of property web sites associated with said user accountincluding updating a database containing information about said existinguser and the property website for each of said plurality of properties,and automatically registering said unique domain name for said newproperty web site, whereby a potential buyer may obtain information oneach of said plurality of properties by providing said unique domainname to the Internet.
 25. A method according to claim 24 wherein saidunique domain name excludes the Internet address of said home web site.26. A method according to claim 24 wherein said property is real estateand said unique domain name comprises the street address of said realestate property.
 27. A system for advertising a property over theInternet comprising: a) means for providing a web site to a plurality ofusers on the Internet, said web site being configured to identify anexisting user by associating said existing user with a user account, b)means for providing said existing user with a link accessible by saidexisting user from said web site to a site-creation web page configuredto receive input from said existing user to create a new property website for each of a plurality of properties for said existing user, saidinput comprising information about said property and a unique domainname for each new property web site; and c) means for automaticallyrecording data correlating said user account and the plurality ofproperty web sites associated with said user account, and registeringsaid unique domain name for the new property web site, whereby apotential buyer may obtain information on the property by providing saiddomain name to the Internet.
 28. A method according to claim 24 furthercomprising allowing a new user to create a user account to become anexisting user.